2016 QB Recruits Who Could Win Starting Job During Freshman Season
As the college football season winds down, many fanbases have had to adjust to cheering for quarterbacks who didn't take the first snap in their respective teams' first games.
Injuries are a part of the game, and unfortunately, there have been a handful of teams who have lost their starting quarterbacks to injury this season. Notre Dame, Michigan State, TCU and Baylor all have seen backup quarterbacks this season. In Baylor's case, the fanbase has seen two quarterbacks fall to injury.
Injuries are one way to see new quarterbacks. Florida had to replace its starter following a one-year suspension, and Ohio State saw a switch in the position during the eighth week of play. Whatever the case, all of the aforementioned teams have managed to find success on the field.
The 2016 class of quarterbacks will enter college with extremely high expectations. And while there's no guarantee that any of the current high-school seniors and junior-college athletes will start the first game of the 2016 season at their schools, there are a few players who college football fans could see taking over snaps around this time next year.
Here are seven 2016 quarterbacks who could be starters in college in their first years with their programs. All names are listed in alphabetical order.
Stanford: 4-Star K.J. Costello
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Hometown (school): Rancho Santa Margarita, California (Santa Margarita Catholic HS)
Size: 6'4", 213 lbs
247Sports composite player rank: No. 30 overall (No. 3 PRO)
Kevin Hogan is finishing his senior season, and many feel next year's quarterback battle will feature junior-to-be Keller Chryst and K.J. Costello. Don't be surprised if Costello gets playing time early and ultimately takes over play-calling full time, as he is more than capable of leading the offense.
Of all his characteristics, arm strength may be Costello's strongest asset. Costello has a quick delivery, and his passes have plenty of zip. Costello also is a player who doesn't fear competition, something that the Stanford coaching staff really likes about him.
Michigan State: 3-Star Messiah DeWeaver
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Hometown (school): Dayton, Ohio (Wayne HS)
Size: 6'4", 215 lbs
247Sports composite player rank: No. 352 overall (No. 13 PRO)
With Connor Cook expected to be an NFL draft pick, next year's starting job for Michigan State could come down to rising senior Tyler O'Connor or junior-to-be Damion Terry. Or, the Spartans could ultimately take a chance on Messiah deWeaver, who impressed evaluators throughout the spring and summer in Elite 11 competition.
Spartans fans will quickly notice that deWeaver possesses prototypical quarterback size, great feet and excellent reactionary time. He may be considered as a composite 3-star athlete, but deWeaver has 5-star playmaking ability.
Georgia: 5-Star Jacob Eason
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Hometown (school): Lake Stevens, Washington (Lake Stevens HS)
Size: 6'5", 205 lbs
247Sports composite player rank: No. 5 overall (No. 2 PRO)
Junior Greyson Lambert is taking the snaps for this year's Georgia squad, but there's much anticipation for the arrival of Jacob Eason—assuming he still chooses Georgia, particularly with Mark Richt no longer as head coach. Eason took an official visit to Florida on Tuesday. If he sticks with Georgia, Eason will continue to receive comparisons to former Bulldogs standout and current Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford.
For Eason, it's all about living up to those expectations. Eason, physically speaking, is everything teams want in a quarterback. He has great size, good feet and a strong arm. Eason could be an outstanding quarterback if everything clicks mentally. His top priority is transitioning from high school to college.
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Cal: 3-Star Max Gilliam
4 of 7Hometown (school): Thousand Oaks, California (Thousand Oaks HS)
Size: 6'3", 190 lbs
247Sports composite player rank: No. 437 overall (No. 17 PRO)
Junior Jared Goff's anticipated departure to the NFL leaves Cal with developing one of its young quarterbacks on the roster, including sophomores-to-be Chase Forrest, Ross Bowers and David Maaghul. This could be good news for Max Gilliam, who has a chance to be an impact player in the Pac-12.
Gilliam is growing more as a quarterback after giving up baseball his sophomore season. He throws a great mid-range and deep ball, and the fact that he's planning on graduating early gives reason to believe he'll be in the running for a starting spot before the start of the 2016 season.
Maryland: 4-Star Dwayne Haskins
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Hometown (school): Potomac, Maryland (The Bullis School)
Size: 6'3", 198 lbs
247Sports composite player rank: No. 64 overall (No. 6 PRO)
Maryland's quarterback situation has been shaky in recent weeks. Seniors-to-be Perry Hills and Caleb Rowe, rising junior Shane Cockerille and sophomore-to-be Gage Shaffer are players to keep an eye on for next season, but the hype for Dwayne Haskins is very high, and he could be the guy before the end of the 2016 season.
Haskins plays the role of calm, collected athlete very well. Nothing seems to faze him, which is something every college coach wants in a poised quarterback. Haskins has a smooth delivery and pocket presence, and his instincts make him just as dangerous as a dual-threat option as he is as a pro-style quarterback.
Ole Miss: 5-Star Shea Patterson
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Hometown (school): Bradenton, Florida (IMG Academy)
Size: 6'2", 195 lbs
247Sports composite player rank: No. 4 overall (No. 1 PRO)
Junior Chad Kelly has done enough to handle starting duties for Ole Miss, and he is expected to enter next season as the incumbent starter. But with the talent level that Shea Patterson brings to the table, the quarterback battle could be a lot closer than some may think.
Patterson is the nation's top-ranked quarterback for a reason. From his accuracy to his ability to read defenses and his delivery in and out of the pocket, he has all the tools of a future star in the SEC. Look for Patterson to be a team leader very early in his career.
Utah: JUCO 3-Star Troy Williams
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Hometown (school): Harbor City (Santa Monica College)
Size: 6'2", 210 lbs
247Sports composite player rank: No. 33 JUCO overall (No. 2 JUCO PRO)
With starter Travis Wilson and backup Kendal Thompson finishing up their college careers, Troy Williams will have a chance to come in as a junior college transfer and set the tone. His statistics, per the Southern California Football Association website, show that he can hold his own in Pac-12 play.
Williams, a one-time Washington signee, will have two seasons to play at Utah, which means he'll have the opportunity to further hone his skills with quarterbacks coach Aaron Roderick and head coach Kyle Whittingham. Williams could be a game-changer for a program looking to build off its fast start this season.
Damon Sayles is a National Recruiting Analyst for Bleacher Report. All player ratings are courtesy of 247Sports' composite ratings. All college football depth charts are courtesy of Ourlads. Follow Damon via Twitter: @DamonSayles.
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